FEDERAL AGENCY RECOGNIZES POT FOR MEDICAL USE

[Pseudo]

Medical marijuana dispensaries currently under fire from the IRS may have been handed a critical new weapon in their fight to stay open. The National Cancer Institute, one of the many federal agencies who make up the National Institute of Health, has ruled that marijuana does in fact have medical benefits, making it the first federal agency to do so.

The NCI has issued a statement that in clinical trials, cancer patients successfully treated nausea and vomiting, sleeplessness, pain, and loss of appetite using marijuana. It stated that cannabis was being investigated as having not only a palliative effect on symptoms, but also a possible "direct antitumor effect".

The IRS has been citing § 280E of the federal tax code as a means of disallowing years of business deductions for marijuana dispensaries, which, if allowed, would effectively put many of them out of business. § 280E states that no business deductions will be allowed for businesses "trafficking in controlled substances".

From the Washington Independent:

The new NCI assessment could have an impact on the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug, the harshest possible drug classification, which has resulted in a prison population in which 1 in 8 prisoners in the U.S. is locked up for a marijuana-related offense. One of the principal criteria for a Schedule I determination is that there be “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” The U.S. Justice Department may have a hard time maintaining that claim if challenged, considering a federal agency now recognizes marijuana’s medical use in cancer treatment.

The Independent also reports on a white paper (PDF) issued by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) stating that because marijuana is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, doctors should be censured for prescribing it in states where it is legal. The report cites marijuana use as a health risk in that the drug's primary method of consumption is through smoking.

Marijuana advocates like Allen St. Pierre of the National Organization for Marijuana Legalization (NORML) believe that the physician-directed ASAM has a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal. St. Pierre is quoted in the Independent as saying, "These doctors are making a fortune off of marijuana prohibition. They have a financial, proprietary interest to maintain the status quo."

 

[budbasket]

I originally was going to comment on the insanity of denying for over 40 years any medicinal value then suddenly admitting mmj actually does exhibit positive effects, but at least science is finally winning over politics. One step at a time.

 

[megayields]

hmmm unfortunately I have a feeling this is going to do little to stop the Fed's looking at Medical MJ as a federal offense or to dissuade their increasing campaign against the MJ industry although the fight is more volatile at the STATE level since they are now viewing it as a readily available new revenue source.

 

[festivus]

The Veteran's Administration formally recognized MJ's medicinal benefits last year.

 

[NachoConQueso]

It's complicated guys. There's a lot of in and outs with this. I'm pretty sure these trials were all done by oral ingestion of a non FDA approved synthetic compound. Here's a quote from NCI's website in regards to Cannabis studies (not cannabinoids or synthetic compounds), read the last part especially:

"There have been only three small clinical trials on the use of Cannabis in cancer patients. All three studies assessed antiemetic activity but each explored a different patient population and chemotherapy regimen. One study demonstrated no effect, the second study showed a positive effect versus placebo, and the report of the third study did not provide enough information to characterize the overall outcome as positive or neutral. Consequently, there are insufficient data to provide an overall level of evidence assessment for the use of Cannabis for chemotherapy-induced N/V. Apparently, there are no published data on the use of Cannabis for other cancer-related or cancer treatment–related symptoms.

An increasing number of trials are evaluating the sublingual administration of whole Cannabis plant extract with fixed concentrations of cannabinoid components.

At present, there is insufficient evidence to recommend inhaling Cannabis as a treatment for cancer-related symptoms or cancer treatment–related side effects outside the context of well-designed clinical trials."

This is as it stands today. You can argue it any which way, but this is the NCI's current position. It's good that they see potential in marijuana, but that's all we have for now. It's a lot believe me. For the NCI to say it has some form of potential means something.

 

[hempluvr]

The Veteran's Administration formally recognized MJ's medicinal benefits last year.

My dad`s medical card was covered by the V.A last year and this year. They bought his lights and everything else except seeds.
He suffers from PTS(post traumatic stress) from vietnam. It`s funny how war fucks these people`s mind`s up so bad and the usa is doing next to nothing. Thank GOD for marijuana because it stops his nightmares and other issues he has with the war. The medicine they had him on had all sorts of side effects..side effects of weed are obvious....hungry,happy,sleepy! Take care folks,just wanted to share that lil tid bit,seems we are making some steps towards legalization

 

[Maj.Cottonmouth]

You gotta love our federal government, they schedule mj as schedule 1 even though there is documented medical use from over a thousand years ago in China. Fuckers. Well at least Oregon rescheduled mj to schedule 2.

 

[rdy]

Linky / source?

Great find.

 

[Deft]

Interesting... We will have a pretty good list of medical organization supporters pretty soon.

 

[Pseudo]

i found it on FARK.com yesterday

 

[rives]

The Independent also reports on a white paper (PDF) issued by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) stating that because marijuana is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, doctors should be censured for prescribing it in states where it is legal. The report cites marijuana use as a health risk in that the drug's primary method of consumption is through smoking.

Well, I'm certainly happy that there is no health risk associated with the morphine that I take since I don't smoke it and it is FDA regulated.

 

[miltonchitlin]

I'm pretty sure they are moving thc based drugs to schedule 1 and making cannabis plants still schedule 3. It's like making vitamin C legal, but owning an orange illegal.

 

[Amber Trich]

You gotta love our federal government, they schedule mj as schedule 1 even though there is documented medical use from over a thousand years ago in China. Fuckers. Well at least Oregon rescheduled mj to schedule 2.

yeah archeologists found cannabis seeds from the neolithic times... which means people have been growing it since the invention of farming.

and there is record of continuous use and cultivation of cannabis by the chinese since 4000bce

My dad`s medical card was covered by the V.A last year and this year. They bought his lights and everything else except seeds.
He suffers from PTS(post traumatic stress) from vietnam. It`s funny how war fucks these people`s mind`s up so bad and the usa is doing next to nothing. Thank GOD for marijuana because it stops his nightmares and other issues he has with the war. The medicine they had him on had all sorts of side effects..side effects of weed are obvious....hungry,happy,sleepy! Take care folks,just wanted to share that lil tid bit,seems we are making some steps towards legalization

That is a super sweet. Im glad he is able to get real, healthy help..

 

[Koroz]

I'm pretty sure they are moving thc based drugs to schedule 1 and making cannabis plants still schedule 3. It's like making vitamin C legal, but owning an orange illegal.

Sorta, but you have it backwards.

Schedule I is where Cannabis is held at now. controlled narcotic with NO medical benefits.

Synthetic THC is being moved to Schedule 3, which is a controlled substance with medical benefits.

 

[Preacher]

Sorta, but you have it backwards.

Schedule I is where Cannabis is held at now. controlled narcotic with NO medical benefits.

Synthetic THC is being moved to Schedule 3, which is a controlled substance with medical benefits.

It was moved there in 1999. "Excellent safety record" says the FDA. "Today's pot kills" says the drug czar, he claims it's because we've upped the THC levels in weed. Funny how that works.
Well, I ain't laughing
It doesn't look like they're endorsing smoked cannabis (could be wrong), as due to the single convention and whatnot I doubt they would. Still fantastic news. Same for the VA, pity I forgot that fact when I was talking to a guy doing a charity for homeless vets a few days ago. They perform one of the most mentally scarring services a human can possibly experience, come home to fuck all, and just quit on life because nobody gives a shit about 'em and their mental sacrifice. The VA's good at correcting that, now moreso.

 

[Deft]

Feds Remove Anti-Tumor Cannabis Info After Just Days Online

Feds Remove Anti-Tumor Cannabis Info After Just Days Online

Feds Remove Anti-Tumor Cannabis Info After Just Days Online

Just 11 days after adding a section on medical marijuana to its treatment database, the National Cancer Institute has altered the new page, removing any mention of the evidence that marijuana can diminish and even reverse tumor growth.

In an edit appearing Monday afternoon, NCI replaced a sentence about marijuana's direct anti-tumor effect with one saying that it is prescribed mainly to control nausea, pain and insomnia for cancer patients, reports Kyle Daly at The Colorado Independent.

The original language, published to the Web on March 17, had read:

The potential benefits of medicinal Cannabis for people living with cancer include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep. In the practice of integrative oncology, the health care provider may recommend medicinal Cannabis not only for symptom management but also for its possible direct antitumor effect.


After being changed Monday, it now reads:

The potential benefits of medicinal Cannabis for people living with cancer include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep. Though no relevant surveys of practice patterns exist, it appears that physicians caring for cancer patients who prescribe medicinal Cannabis predominantly do so for symptom management.


Information which acknowledges that marijuana has been used medicinally for thousands of years was left on the site, as were statements regarding cannabinoids and their benefits in ameliorating the side-effects of conventional cancer treatments.

Was Big Pharm behind the changes? Were the pharmaceutical companies protecting their profits derived from harsh and often ineffective chemotherapy?

Do we live in a free, science-based society or one where medical research can be deleted and ignored for political reasons?

Looks like someone applied some pressure.

NCI site:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/

Story here:
http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/03/feds_remove_anti-tumor_cannabis_info_after_just_5.php#more

 

[Preacher]

Feds Remove Anti-Tumor Cannabis Info After Just Days Online


Looks like someone applied some pressure.


http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/03/feds_remove_anti-tumor_cannabis_info_after_just_5.php#more

Goddamnit. They can't fight the tide forever.

 

[dominicangreen]

i say marijuana is #1 rock on is that what they mean? LOL jk

 

[hippydan]

All this means is the Feds will be cracking down as hard as always, leaving room for the big pharmaceutical companies to move in and sell you the drugs you're already using at prices they know you'll pay. It's all about the money!

 

[Madrus Rose]

They've really had a hell of a time proving that Canabis has any deleterious effects at all , haven't they ? By now in the 21rst century seems reaonable that should be the 1rst burden placed on the feds from now on , prove --->it does harm !
(and good luck to them)

The Canabis classification in the most harmful category which originated in the United Nations Narcotics Treaty Convention 1961 10yrs before the DEA was formed , was never shown to be harmful just was widespread in its useage . That UN Narcotics Treaty of 1961 was regarded as a milestone in the history of international drug control up to the formation of the DEA under Prez Tricky Dick Nixon & his attorney general John Mitchell , 10yrs later in 1971 . It was the US officials in 1961 that pressured all the other Nations to agree to classify Canabis in that Treaty's most harmful category which the DEA 10yrs later mirrored exactly .

You'd think by now the burden of evidence for proving Canabis was harmful in anyway would really be falling square on the shoulders of the Fed , since after all these years they've produced hardly any proof at all that it does. (or Hemp ? <G )

Here's the ruse & the rub, that even if you are to overwhelmingly prove that Cannabis has medical & therapeutic value & does no harm, the Attorney General, DOJ & the DEA can ignore such scientific findings by the power of the US participation in the ----> United Nations International Narcotics Treaty which takes precedent over all else

See here & below :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Removal_of_cannabis_from_Schedule_I_of_the_Controlled_Substances_Act

If an international treaty, ratified by the U.S., mandates that a drug be controlled, the Attorney General is required to "issue an order controlling such drug under the schedule he deems most appropriate to carry out such obligations" without regard to scientific or medical findings.[15]

The consolidation of great interagency power was the chief aim with forming the DEA , both domestically & abroad . And by maintaining Canabis in the most harm category they keep these far reaching powers they will not lightly ever give up ...in a world where drugs/Canabis/hash have often been used & traded for arms (just ask Ronald Reagan =Iran Contra affair ) , they wont give up this power easily ..and do not have to since we are co-signers of the Intl UN Treaty . That's their #1 agenda ...power.